Portraits in OilSelected Paintings

Portrait of Nat Benjamin

Well-known wooden boat designer and builder Nat Benjamin is captured in the light of a cool fall day as he stands in a corner of the Gannon & Benjamin Marine Railway boat shop, located in Vineyard Haven on the island of Martha's Vineyard. He is surrounded by the classic tools of his trade which are piled on the long workbenches.

Men

Stephanie Mashek - architect

In this portrait painting Stephanie Mashek, of Mashek MacLean Architects in Vineyard Haven, is shown at work with tape measure and notes. Mashek MacLean has provided design and planning services to educational institutions, museums, non-profit organizations and private residential clients throughout New England. With such a diverse offering Whelan kept the background non-specific, creating a scene that incorporated both the feel of an architectural sketch, and a building under construction.

Corporate

Women

Corporate CEO, retired

Elizabeth Whelan was honored to paint the retired CEO of famed jewelry company Tiffany & Co., and this painting will hang in the boardroom alongside other portraits painted over the past century. To bring in a contemporary element Whelan depicted the CEO in a natural pose and to allude to his conservation interests, included in the background some of the company's many beautiful nature-themed jewelry designs.

Corporate

Men

Will Luckey - Musician

Talented West Tisbury musician and music teacher Will Luckey plays the mandolin in this atmospheric portrait that uses a traditional color scheme. In the background are the shapes of a piano and guitars, instruments of which he is a master.
Will is also a member of the Colorado jam band 'Magic Music', whose story was the impetus for filmmaker Lee Aronsohn's documentary "40 Years in the Making: The Magic Music Movie."

Men

Whaling Captain Joseph Belain

Depicting New England Whaling Captain Joseph Belain, this is a posthumous portrait composed in the style of maritime portraits of the late 1800's. Capt. Belain was one of a number of whaling captains of color, many of whom had African American and Wampanoag ancestry. Whelan's reference for the project was a very small grayscale tintype of Capt. Belain's head and torso. She created the rest of the scene from historic reference.

For more information about whaling captains of color, look for author Skip Finley's “Whaling Captains of Color: America's First Meritocracy” due out summer 2019.

Exterior

Men

Posthumous

Jennifer Watts Pillsworth - photographer

Photographer and Field Gallery director Jennifer (Jhenn) Watts Pillsworth stands in front of a few of her works in the Field Gallery. Elizabeth decided to paint Jhenn in a pose similar to Sargent's 'Madame X', due to the lovely black dress Jhenn was wearing -- although Madame X didn't have those great shoes!

Women

Portrait of a Young Girl - Edgartown

When it comes to young people in particular, a portrait captures them in the fleeting moments of their growing-up; in this pair of portraits, Elizabeth Whelan painted two lovely girls of ages 8 and 11, working at their crafts table during a summer in Edgartown. Painted as a diptych, the portraits can be hung together to complete a scene or, when the girls are older, each can have her own painting.

Children

Girls

A Girl and Her Artwork - Edgartown

Elizabeth Whelan painted the portrait of this creative young woman working on her art and crafts, seated at the table with her younger sister (see other portrait on this page). Painted as a diptych, the portraits can be hung together to complete a scene or, when the girls are older, each can have her own painting.

Children

Girls

Ron DiOrio - Oak Bluffs

Ron DiOrio is the owner of the popular Craftworks Gallery on Circuit Avenue in Oak Bluffs, MA. The gallery is in its 27th year, and I painted Ron sitting in the lovely garden area at the back of the gallery.

Exterior

Men

Portrait of Geraldine Brooks - Valentine

Pulitzer Prize-winning author and West Tisbury resident Geraldine Brooks has a great love and respect for animals of all shapes and sizes, and horses are a particular favorite. To capture that close relationship, artist Elizabeth Whelan painted her in gentle communion with this lovely horse.

Cynthia Riggs - author

Martha's Vineyard murder mystery author Cynthia Riggs is a dynamic woman who has been a boat captain and a liveaboard, runs a B&B and a writers group, has many published works to her name, and enjoys gardening at her centuries-old home in West Tisbury. Rather than show her in a typical writer's pose, I painted her as she begins to tackle the late spring growth, abundant wildflowers and vegetation surrounding her.

Exterior

Women

Portrait of Stina Sayre

Martha's Vineyard fashion designer Stina Sayre is shown in her design studio; cool light catches the folds of the fabric as it trails across the polished floor. Whelan highlights Stina's posture and captures the attractive designer at the very beginning of her process of creation. Her hands take center stage as she contemplates the draping of crisp fabric around the mannequin.

(You are invited to visit Stina Sayre's design studio & showroom on Main Street in Vineyard Haven, MA, to view this painting where it is on display.)

Corporate

Women

A Fair Breeze - Portrait of Ross Gannon

At the helm of the beautiful wood sloop Eleda, which he designed and built, boat builder Ross Gannon sails in spring breezes through the islands around Martha's Vineyard. The scene is lively and filled with the sense of fresh air and the joy of being under way.

Exterior

Men

Portrait of a Working Man

Wooden boatbuilder and designer William E. Benns is painted sitting against stonework, contemplating the distant islands and surrounding waters. Bill is dedicated to keeping the skills and tradition of wooden boat building alive and well in the Northeast despite the challenges that life can bring.

Exterior

Men

Greer Boyle Thornton

Greer Thornton, co-owner of Atria restaurant in Edgartown, poses in classy contrast to the interior of a kitchen for this surprising take on a classic portrait. Elizabeth Whelan has subtitled this portrait, "One Fine Red".

Corporate

Women

Portait of Karen W. Finley

Karen Finley is a lovely and dynamic woman of many interests, with a passion for teaching mathematics. The quartered apple, the triangle, ruler and calculator are all symbols of her education career, and the plans on which she is at work hearken to her current renovation projects.

Tara Kenny and Lloyd

A relaxed and casual approach to a portrait results in this quiet beach scene where Tara Kenny strolls in the morning light with her trusty beagle Lloyd. A portrait need not always be a close-up; this method captures a sense of the subjects and the day in a plein air style.

Exterior

Women

A multi-figure portrait

A breezy summer's day is captured in this painting of an attractive family gathered on the deck of their waterfront summer home. A portrait of this type captures the relationship of the family as a whole, as well as likenesses of the individuals.

Contact Elizabeth Whelan

Give the gift of a fine art painting

A commissioned painting makes an excellent gift for a loved one or family member, for a retirement, commemorative purposes or as a gesture of recognition. Options include a portrait, landscape, maritime, or still life painting. Elizabeth will provide you with a gift certificate to present to the recipient, and they can contact Elizabeth at their convenience to make further arrangements.
Elizabeth Whelan looks forward to discussing your commissioned painting gift idea!
Find more information on the Process & Fees pages of this website.